If it weren't for ossification, you'd be a soft mound of blood, water, and flesh. The process of creating and growing bones is complicated, interesting, and chock-full of vocabulary that you need to know[more…]

Science, especially medicine, is permeated with Latin and Greek terms. Latin names are used for every part of the body; and since the Greeks are the founders of modern medicine, Greek terms are common[more…]

Your body’s cavities are basically the holes that would be left (besides bones and tissues forming the space) if you removed your internal organs. Your body has two main cavities; the dorsal and ventral[more…]

Whenever you see an anatomical drawing, like the one below, you’re looking at the anatomic position. This standard position (standing straight, looking forward, arms at your side, and facing forward) keeps[more…]

When you’re talking anatomy and physiology, the body is divided into sections, usually three planes. Separating the body into sections, or cuts, let’s you know which body half is being explained. The anatomic[more…]

From almost the moment they were discovered, bacteria have had a rotten reputation. Germs, people called them. Bugs. People scrubbed them away, developed drugs to kill them, cursed them for causing[more…]

No matter how much you study or how many Latin and Greek roots you memorize, it’s inevitable that some aspects of anatomy and physiology will leave you dazed and confused. But if you study within reach[more…]

The cell life cycle, usually referred to simply as the cell cycle or the CDC (cell division cycle), extends from the beginning of one cell division to the beginning of the next division. The human body[more…]

The human body is composed of some fascinating bits and pieces. Your muscles are responsible for all your body movements — large and small — and for so much more. Following are four fun facts about the[more…]

Do you feel a sneeze coming on the moment you even hear the word pollen? Allergies may feel like they simply cannot have an upside, but don’t wish your hay fever away too fast: Two decades of studies[more…]

With so many industrious components keeping you moving through your life, it can be startling to think about the number of body parts that, frankly, you just don’t need. The first ones that come to mind[more…]

Basic anatomy may be fairly straightforward, but how the human body uses all those parts can present a smorgasbord of interesting discoveries. Here is just a peek at ten of the more intriguing aspects[more…]

Superlatives about the human body tend to center around the brain. Fastest, neediest, most powerful — it is, after all, what makes people human. That 3-pound hunk of tissue demands 20 percent of the oxygen[more…]

What’s the best way to tackle anatomy and physiology and come out successful on the other side? Of course, a good memory helps plenty, but with a little advance planning and tricks of the study trade,[more…]

Atoms tend to arrange themselves in the most stable patterns possible, which means that they have a tendency to complete or fill their outermost electron orbits. They join with other atoms to do just that[more…]

When elements combine through chemical reactions, they form compounds. When compounds contain carbon, they’re called organic compounds. The four families of organic compounds with important biological[more…]

Metabolism (from the Greek metabole, which means change) is the word for the myriad chemical reactions that happen in the body, particularly as they relate to generating, storing, and expending energy[more…]

Think of it as a gatekeeper, guardian, or border guard. Despite being only 6 to 10 nanometers thick and visible only through an electron microscope, the cell membrane keeps the cell’s cytoplasm in place[more…]

Proteins are essential building blocks for all living systems, which helps explain why the word is derived from the Greek term proteios, meaning holding first place. Cells use proteins to perform a variety[more…]